Ali Fazal (Victoria & Abdul), Emma Mackey (Sex Education), Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones), and Tom Bateman are also on board – the latter reprising his role as Bouc from Murder on the Orient Express. Russell Brand‘s role in the film, first reported in August, is now 100 percent official.

And we now know that British comedy royalty Dawn French (The Vicar of Dibley) and Jennifer Saunders are on board, too, making the movie a (sort of) French and Saunders reunion! The two actor-comedians wrote and starred in their own BBC sketch comedy series, French and Saunders, between 1987 and 2007, and remain firm friends.

The full cast was confirmed in a tweet from the Murder on the Orient Express official account.

This time, the story follows Branagh’s detective, Hercule Poirot, as he attempts to solve the murder of a young heiress on a river cruise in Egypt. Branagh is shooting in Surrey, England, and on location in Egypt, and the movie is scheduled for release on October 9, 2020.

“Crimes of passion are dangerously sexy,” said Branagh, who is directing from a screenplay by Murder on the Orient Express writer Michael Green. “Agatha Christie has written a riveting story of emotional chaos and violent criminality and Michael Green has once again written a screenplay to match.

“With a cherished group of long-time artistic collaborators and a brilliant international cast, it is truly a pleasure to join Disney, Fox and Agatha Christie, Ltd. in bringing this daring thriller to the big screen. There are significant new twists, an awe-inspiring desert landscape and a chance to celebrate big screen entertainment in glorious 65 millimeter celluloid!”